Warm Burlap- January Tabletop

This year I want to find more time for myself! One of my most favorite things to do is play with my table linens and create beautiful table center pieces for dinner guests. Both Josh and I love cooking, baking, hosting, and making our home a welcoming place for friends and family. My table setting for January was inspired by my sweet divine burlap table runner purchased at Ramshackled Treasures. http://www.ramshackledtreasuresonline.com   

They have some really cute burlap pieces right now if you are in the market. I also found a ruffled Christmas tree skirt that I knew would be perfect for table center pieces. It is cream colored and very versatile so I am sure I will use it often. The layered look on my table is very put together and coordinated. I used wicker placements that compliment the burlap and a silver charger for a little shine underneath my china.  I layered a cream and white eyelet napkin paired pearl napkin ring holders which really tied the colors together. I have been seeing a lot of beautiful glass pieces stacked on top of each other lately and I decided to give it a try since I like a little height on my table. I layered a crystal dish on a cake stand and filled it with chocolate covered raisins, almonds, and peanuts for our guests. I am hoping that soon my table is filled with delicious food and the seats are occupied by wonderful company. The table is the one place in the home that cannot be gathered around too often. 

All great change in America begins at the dinner table. 
Ronald Reagan 

Holiday Hockey

 This Christmas we spent some time on the ice rink by our house. It was fun to get out and play a little hockey with the family even though it didn't last long! Here are a few pictures from our adventure!

 

Christmas Angel Program

At our annual Solie Christmas party we always pick a family to sponsor on behalf of all of our friends. This year we sponsored the family of a little baby girl named Lydia. She is such a special little girl who has struggled almost her entire life. Today, while I was at work Josh had the honor of meeting baby Lydia at her Grandmothers house. He said she was the cutest little thing he has ever seen! She had a little pink bow in her hair and she smiled as soon as he walked in. She was proud to show him that she could now take a few steps on her own while barely holding on to her Grandma's hands!

 

Lydia's Grandma wanted to make sure to we told everyone involved that she is more thankful than words could ever describe. She has been moved to tears by the generosity of complete strangers willing to help, and she is thankful from the bottom of her heart. She sent Josh home with a couple of wristbands and told us that if anybody wanted updates on Lydia we could follow her caring bridge website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lydialockman.

I also wanted to thank all of our amazing friends for joining us in this new tradition that means so much to me. This is what the meaning of Christmas is all about!

Christmas Cookies 2012

 

This Christmas I decided not to bake as many holiday treats as usual but you cant tell by the picture!

We mostly made easy cookies as we were pressed for time, and had a sick little dog at the time.

Our list included: Holiday hideaways, Christmas wreaths, sugar cookies, toffee bars, Peanut blossoms, Ritz peanut butters, Lemon Spritzers, holiday truffles, Haystacks, and covered pretzels.  We always send our friends home with a tin of cookies for their enjoyment at our Christmas party. 

I can't wait until I have my dream kitchen and I can bake for days without ever running out of room for my finished products! Maybe next year ;)

7th Annual Solie Christmas Party

 We had the most amazing Christmas party with all of our friends and family this year. It was such a blessing to have our friends' children come over and brighton our spirits! Little ones just hold such a special place in our hearts! Thank you all for coming over and making our holiday party so special again this year.

 

 

Claudia and Nolan! So sweet!

Um.. they planned to pose like this for the photo!

I love this pic of Aunt Brosia and Anneka!

 

All seven kiddos!

 



 

I love Brooklyn's silly faces!

Too cute!

Hehe...Abigail loved this cookie!

Evan was sooo happy opening his gift!

Nolan and Mommy opening his Christmas gift.

 

Boyfriend/Girlfriend

Mommy and Aunt Broisa reading to Anneka.

Abigail showing Mom her new Olivia book!

Evan and Mommy!

 

 The after party, for those of us who do not have children, consisited of some country western singing :)

 

Ginger 7/11/2000-12/2/2012

The most heartfelt posts often come out of raw emotions. Tonight, I was just finishing up baking, feeling brutally exhausted from cookies, and struggling to find out what is wrong with my little dog. I had just cleaned the table off and I looked at Ginger panting on the rug again. I just wish I could help her. I bent over, turned on the twinkle Christmas tree lights, picked up Ginger and sat down with her. She loved to be held like a baby. She died in my arms after 30 seconds of me holding her. She must have really needed me tonight. I held her as she passed on, and set her on the floor as she took her last breaths. The silence is so immediate. I miss her already.

 

This was Ginger and I last Saturday when we got our Christmas Tree.

Daddy's Little Dear

My brother Josh was able to come home for the last weekend of hunting this year, and since he is having a baby girl soon I decided to tie everything together with a baby shower themed, "Daddy's Little Dear!" 

We were thankful to find a ton of little girl Real Tree camo items for baby Penelope! She might be born in Texas, but she will be a Minnesota girl if we have anything to say about it!

Green and Pink party favors!

And our 'Daddy's little Fawn' cake.

My most favorite thing I got for my niece is her first doll!

This little baby is soo cute in her camo dress! I love it!

 I also made cake batter truffles, as these seem to be a hit at showers.



 

 

My husband and I made cupcakes and baby feet cookies for the shower. There was not a shortage of sweets that is for sure!

 The shower invitations I made at Tiny Prints. 

 Josh was so blessed to have so many special friends and family come and celebrate at the baby shower! We are so very thankful for all of the support him and Mayra have back here in MN!

Josh reading my Grandma Jane's special song that she remembered from the 1930's.

My brother did a great job without Mayra being here, he opened all the gifts and attempted to describe, and show his family in Texas everything he received via Skype. We really missed Mayra and Valeria, but at lease we were able to see them, and see Mayra's pregnant tummy!

Mayra and Valeria Skyping in Texas!

All of us Skyping in Minnesota, at the baby shower!

One of my favorite moments of the night was my brothers reactions to opening this gift from Ashley! He has no idea about baby items! He described this as a 'sleeping bag with arms'!